Investigation of medical effect of multiple ketamine infusions on patients with major depressive disorder

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 494-501 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Zheng ◽  
Yan-Ling Zhou ◽  
Wei-Jian Liu ◽  
Cheng-Yu Wang ◽  
Yan-Ni Zhan ◽  
...  

Objective: Single-dose intravenous ketamine has rapid but time-limited antidepressant effects. We aimed to examine the sustained effects of six consecutive ketamine infusions in Chinese patients with major depressive disorder. Methods: Seventy-seven patients with major depressive disorder were eligible to receive augmentation with six ketamine infusions (0.5 mg/kg over 40 min) administered over the course of 12 days (Monday–Wednesday–Friday). The coprimary outcome measures were the rates of response and remission as measured on the 10-item Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale. Psychotomimetic and dissociative symptoms were measured with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale-positive symptoms and the Clinician Administered Dissociative States Scale, respectively. Results: After the first ketamine infusion, only 10 (13.0%) and 6 (7.8%) patients responded and remitted, respectively; after six ketamine infusions, 52 (67.5%) patients responded and 37 (48.1%) remitted. There was a significant mean decrease in Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale score at four hours after the first ketamine infusion (7.0±7.5, p<0.001), and this decrease was maintained for the duration of the infusion period. The response to ketamine treatment was positively associated with no history of psychiatric hospitalization (odds ratio=3.56, p=0.009). Suicidal ideation rapidly decreased across the entire study sample, even among the nonresponder group. No significant differences were found regarding Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and Clinician Administered Dissociative States Scale scores from the first infusion at baseline to four hours post-infusion. Conclusion: Six ketamine infusions increased rates of response and remission when compared to a single-dose ketamine infusion in patients with major depressive disorder. Future controlled studies are warranted to confirm and expand these findings.

Author(s):  
Goran Mihajlovic ◽  
Petar Vojvodic ◽  
Jovana Vojvodic ◽  
Ana Andonov ◽  
Darko Hinic

Introduction/Objective. The aim of this study was validation of the Montgomery-?sberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) in patients in Serbia suffering from depression. Methods. Both test and retest situations have been conducted on 162 adult patients with major depressive disorder, and on 110 individuals that have not shown any type of mental disorder (control group). The sample included 58.8% male and 41.2% female participants, age between 20 and 79 (M = 42.26, SD = 11.53) with no differences between groups in terms of participants? sex and age. The following instruments were used: MADRS, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. Results. MADRS has shown good psychometric characteristics: internal consistency, test-retest reliability, concurrent validity, and its? discriminatory validity is adequate. Study also confirmed the one-dimensionality of the instrument. Statistically significant differences between the groups, in terms age and education, have been identified, but the effects of the differences were small. Conclusion. The MADRS scale has shown good satisfactory psychometric characteristics in our study; thus, it may be used for the assessment of depressed states in Serbian patients.


2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 623-635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y.-D. Hu ◽  
Y.-T. Xiang ◽  
J.-X. Fang ◽  
S. Zu ◽  
S. Sha ◽  
...  

BackgroundWhile oral antidepressants reach efficacy after weeks, single-dose intravenous (i.v.) ketamine has rapid, yet time-limited antidepressant effects. We aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of single-dose i.v. ketamine augmentation of escitalopram in major depressive disorder (MDD).MethodThirty outpatients with severe MDD (17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression total score ⩾24) were randomized to 4 weeks double-blind treatment with escitalopram 10 mg/day+single-dose i.v. ketamine (0.5 mg/kg over 40 min) or escitalopram 10 mg/day + placebo (0.9% i.v. saline). Depressive symptoms were measured using the Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology – Self-Report (QIDS-SR). Suicidal ideation was evaluated with the QIDS-SR item 12. Adverse psychopathological effects were measured with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS)-positive symptoms, Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and Clinician Administered Dissociative States Scale (CADSS). Patients were assessed at baseline, 1, 2, 4, 24 and 72 h and 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. Time to response (⩾50% MADRS score reduction) was the primary outcome.ResultsBy 4 weeks, more escitalopram + ketamine-treated than escitalopram + placebo-treated patients responded (92.3% v. 57.1%, p = 0.04) and remitted (76.9% v. 14.3%, p = 0.001), with significantly shorter time to response [hazard ratio (HR) 0.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.01–0.22, p < 0.001] and remission (HR 0.11, 95% CI 0.02–0.63, p = 0.01). Compared to escitalopram + placebo, escitalopram + ketamine was associated with significantly lower MADRS scores from 2 h to 2 weeks [(peak = 3 days–2 weeks; effect size (ES) = 1.08–1.18)], QIDS-SR scores from 2 h to 2 weeks (maximum ES = 1.27), and QIDS-SR suicidality from 2 to 72 h (maximum ES = 2.24). Only YMRS scores increased significantly with ketamine augmentation (1 and 2 h), without significant BPRS or CADSS elevation.ConclusionsSingle-dose i.v. ketamine augmentation of escitalopram was safe and effective in severe MDD, holding promise for speeding up early oral antidepressant efficacy.


2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 8-8
Author(s):  
Richard T. Katz

Abstract The author, who is the editor of the Mental and Behavioral Disorders chapter of the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guides), Sixth Edition, comments on the previous article, Assessing Mental and Behavioral Disorder Impairment: Overview of Sixth Edition Approaches in this issue of The Guides Newsletter. The new Mental and Behavioral Disorders (M&BD) chapter, like others in the AMA Guides, is a consensus opinion of many authors and thus reflects diverse points of view. Psychiatrists and psychologists continue to struggle with diagnostic taxonomies within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, but anxiety, depression, and psychosis are three unequivocal areas of mental illness for which the sixth edition of the AMA Guides provides M&BD impairment rating. Two particular challenges faced the authors of the chapter: how could M&BD disorders be rated (and yet avoid an onslaught of attorney requests for an M&BD rating in conjunction with every physical impairment), and what should be the maximal impairment rating for a mental illness. The sixth edition uses three scales—the Psychiatric Impairment Rating Scale, the Global Assessment of Function, and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale—after careful review of a wide variety of indices. The AMA Guides remains a work in progress, but the authors of the M&BD chapter have taken an important step toward providing a reasonable method for estimating impairment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (01) ◽  
pp. 122-128
Author(s):  
Ralte Lalthankimi ◽  
Padmavathi Nagarajan ◽  
Vikas Menon ◽  
Jeby Jose Olickal

Abstract Objectives Mental disorders have a large impact on death by suicide. Hence, this study aims to determine the prevalence of suicidal behaviors among major depressive disorder (MDD) patients and the associated factors. Materials and Methods This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among individuals aged 18 to 65 years, diagnosed with MDD in the Psychiatry Outpatient Department of a Tertiary Care Center, Puducherry during March to October 2019. Severity of depression was assessed using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale was used to find the suicidal behaviors. Results For 166 participants in the study, mean (standard deviation) age was 40 (11) years and majority were females (76%). More than one-third (37%) had severe or very severe depression, and the prevalence of suicidal ideation, plan, and attempts were 83, 24, and 35%, respectively. After adjusting the covariates, the severity of depression and unemployment were significantly associated with suicidal attempts (adjusted prevalence ratios [aPR] = 11.4 and 1.9), and very severe depression was associated with suicidal ideation (aPR = 1.6). Among 140 individuals with suicidal ideation, 45 (32%) had an ideation frequency of 2 to 3 times/week, 69 (50%) had ideation for 1 hour, 36 (26%) could control ideation with little difficulty, and 12% had suicidal ideation mostly to end or stop their pain. Conclusion Suicidal ideation and attempts were significantly high in MDD patients, and the severity of depression was significantly associated with it. Early identification of high-risk suicidal behavior and implementation of effective preventive interventions are necessary to reduce death by suicide in these groups.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey D. Voigt ◽  
Andrew F. Leuchter ◽  
Linda L. Carpenter

AbstractPatients with major depressive disorder (MDD) may be refractory to or have contraindications that preclude treatment with antidepressant pharmacotherapies. Alternative therapies such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) continue to evolve, and include theta burst stimulation (TBS), which has advantages over conventional rTMS. The aim of this study was to identify and meta-analyze efficacy data from all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating TBS as a treatment for MDD. Published reports of RCTs (January 1, 2010 to October 23, 2020) were identified via systematic searches in computerized databases, followed by review of individual reports for inclusion. Inclusion criteria included primary diagnosis of MDD ≥ 1 week duration of therapy with ≥10 sessions, and treatment with any form of TBS. The Cochrane GRADE methodology and PRISMA criteria were used for evaluation of individual trials. Data from ten RCTs were included, representing 667 patients. Of these, 8 RCTs compared TBS to sham treatment and one compared TBS to standard rTMS (i.e., high frequency stimulation over left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex [HFL]). Quality of evidence assessment yielded high confidence in the finding of TBS being superior to sham on response measured by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HRSD) (RR = 2.4; 95% CI: 1.27 to 4.55; P = 0.007; I2 = 40%). Comparison of HRSD response rates for TBS versus rTMS produced no statistically significant difference (RR = 1.02; 95% CI: 0.85 to 1.23; P = 0.80; I2 = 0%). The incidence of adverse events between TBS and rTMS was not statistically different. The findings of a positive effect of TBS vs. sham, and noninferiority of TBS vs. standard HFL rTMS support the continued development of TBS to treat depression.


2021 ◽  
pp. 026988112199832
Author(s):  
Rachael L Sumner ◽  
Emme Chacko ◽  
Rebecca McMillan ◽  
Meg J Spriggs ◽  
Christie Anderson ◽  
...  

Background: Ketamine is central to one of the most rapidly growing areas of neuroscientific research into novel treatments for depression. Limited research has indicated that the psychedelic properties of ketamine may play a role in its antidepressant effects. Aim: The aim of the current study was to explore the psychedelic experiences and sustained impact of ketamine in major depressive disorder. Methods: In the current study, ketamine (0.44 mg/kg) was administered to 32 volunteers with major depressive disorder in a crossover design with the active-placebo remifentanil, in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) environment. The 11-dimension altered states of consciousness questionnaire and individual qualitative interviews were used to capture the acute psychedelic experience. The Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale and further interviewing explored lasting effects. The second qualitative interview took place ⩾3 weeks post-ketamine. Results: Greater antidepressant response (reduction in Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale at 24 h) correlated with the 11-dimension altered states of consciousness dimensions: spirituality, experience of unity, and insight. The first qualitative interview revealed that all participants experienced perceptual changes. Additional themes emerged including loss of control and emotional and mood changes. The final interview showed evidence of a psychedelic afterglow, and changes to perspective on life, people, and problems, as well as changes to how participants felt about their depression and treatments. Conclusions: The current study provides preliminary evidence for a role of the psychedelic experience and afterglow in ketamine’s antidepressant properties. Reflexive thematic analysis provided a wealth of information on participants’ experience of the study and demonstrated the psychedelic properties of ketamine are not fully captured by commonly used questionnaires.


1987 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 174-187
Author(s):  
Monique de Bonis ◽  
Paul de Boeck ◽  
Marie-Odile Lebeaux

RésuméLe présent travail comporte une critique de la méthodologie employée pour définir une typologie des schizophrènes et une étude empirique de la distinction entre forme productive et forme déficitaire.Après avoir souligné que les études factorielles visant l’identification de deux types de schizophrènes reposaient sur des choix méthodologiques discutables: recherche de corrélations entre variables, alors qu’il s’agit de découvrir des corrélations entre sujets; préférence pour des relations symétriques, alors que les liaisons sont probablement d’ordre asymétrique, les auteurs présentent deux études empiriques.La première réalisée sur un échantillon de 99 schizophrènes s’appuie sur la factorisation des estimations de la symptomatologie (BPRS* á 42 items) à l’aide de la méthode factorielle en plan Q et d’une analyse des correspondances. La seconde a porté sur un sous-échantillon de 52 schizophrènes à l’aide d’une nouvelle méthode d’analyse hiérarchique (HICLAS). Les résultats de ces analyses aboutissent aux conclusions suivantes. Les résultats des analyses factorielles montrent: • qu’il existe plus de deux formes de schizophrènie et qu’à l’intérieur des classes formées par les individus l’opposition déficitaire -productif est stable quelle que soit la métrique utilisée; • que cette opposition repose principalement, pour ce qui est de la forme déficitaire sur 3 symptômes: l’émoussement affectif, le retrait affectif et le ralentissement, et pour ce qui est de la forme productive sur l’humeur expansive, l’attitude manipulatoire, l’excitation, la dramatisation et la labilit émotionnelle; • que contrairement aux travaux antérieurs ni les hallucinations ni la désorganisation conceptuelle ne permettent d’établir la différence entre les deux groupes de malades sans doute parce qu’elles sont communes à tous les schizophrènes; • qu’il n’y a pas de correspondance entre les diagnostics cliniques et les formes décrites; et, • que les malades les plus déficitaires (situés aux extrêmités du pole factoriel) se différencient des malades productifs essentiellement par des variables liées au sexe (plus d’hommes que de femmes dans le premier cas), un statut marital de célibat plus fréquent, et des antécédents psychiatriques plus importants. Les résultats des analyses factorielles soulignent d’une part que les types mixtes sont plus fréquents que les types purs et, d’autre part qu’il suffit de moins de 10 symptômes pour réaliser une opposition satisfaisante entre forme productive et forme déficitaire (Tableau 3, figure 1).Toutes ces conclusions sont valables aussi pour l’analyse hiérarchique. Mais de plus, cette méthode permet d’individualiser un groupe de malades “purs” dans la forme déficitaire seulement, groupe disjoint des autres individus sur la base d’un très petit nombre de symptômes. A côté de ces types purs figurent des types mixtes, qui possédent à la fois des symptômes déficitaires et des symptômes productifs suivant des combinaisons hiérarchiques précises, c’est-à-dire avec une dominance de l’une ou de l’autre forme. Il existe aussi des formes résiduelles dans lesquelles aucune hiérarchie ne peut être mise au jour (Tableau 4).En conclusion on a insisté, outre les problèmes méthodologiques négligés dans les précédentes recherches, sur l’existence d’une dissymétrie entre la forme déficitaire et la forme productive, dans la mesure où c’est seulement la forme déficitaire qui présente une grande singularité et sur l’importance des symptômes liés à la vie affective et à son appauvrissement qui ont un pouvoir discriminatif plus élevé que les symptômes productifs.*BPRS = Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale


1994 ◽  
Vol 165 (4) ◽  
pp. 506-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher F. Fear ◽  
Carl S. Littlejohns ◽  
Eryl Rouse ◽  
Paul McQuail

BackgroundThe induction agent propofol is known to reduce electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) seizure duration. It is assumed that outcome from depression is adversely affected by this agent. This study compares propofol and methohexitone as induction agents for ECT.MethodIn a prospective, randomised, double-blind study 20 subjects with major depressive disorder (DSM-III-R criteria) received propofol or methohexitone anaesthesia. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Beck Depression Inventory were used to assess depression before therapy, at every third treatment, and at the end of therapy. Seizure duration was measured using the cuff technique.ResultsMean seizure durations (P < 0.01) and mean total seizure duration (P < 0.01) were shorter in the propofol group. There was no difference in outcome.ConclusionsUse of propofol may not adversely affect outcome from depression and it is not necessarily contraindicated as an induction agent for ECT. Our results should be interpreted cautiously, and larger studies are needed.


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